Watches play a different role nowadays. People can more accurately get the time from their cellphone but it's great to get the time nearly instantly when one is hurrying around with just a quick look at the wrist watch-accessory... Watches don't cost that much and can be very, very stylish... I've been looking at the "high tech" styled watch lines, Android, La Costa, Nooka... I was a high tech worker for decades, high tech is natural on me...

When I go out I like to feel like I'm good to go, well prepared for things.. I have my droid phone, a drop phone for hooking up with people, a wrist watch accessory that sets me apart from the crowd.. I don't really want to look like some assclown flashing his $ around, that's not real bright on a few levels.. it won't bring me what I want...

See a guy with a Rolex President--- most think 1980's car salesman--- the era of the texas timex (rolex) is long gone.

Now, names like Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Patek, and a host of smaller names are where it is in watches. Bling is out, stealth wealth is in, in a big way. Most will not even know that your new Richard Mille cost 75k, and thats a good thing. Only those in the know will know what you have and thats the point. Who cares what the masses think, everything has become personalized for smaller and smaller groups--and prices have ramped up dramatically since that article was published, watches included.
There is a fine line between stealth wealth symbols and idiot bling.

enjoy,

surf

PS. Read "The Zeros" by Randall Lane for a decent expose on watches and trading culture-- there is serious interface between the two-- one reason this site is somewhat dubious since there is little to no interest.....

Wealth items like watches really are a burden. I have a friend who loves watches and recently bought a nice Jaeger-Lecoultre. He wasted at least ten saturday afternoon trying watches in Geneva before making his choice.

Now that he owns it, he is constantly putting it on and off depending on where we are going out, can't put it in the rain because of the crocodile bracelet and the day he did just a micro crack on the glass, it was almost the end of the world...